How do you organise Lego?

[UpsyDaisyDo]

My ds loves lego. Mainly the Star Wars and Ninjago stuff but he has Lego City, Cars 2, Atlantis, Pharohs Quest etc etc. The stuff is so damn expensive I really don't want to chuck it all in one tub but all the boxes take up so much room. I need some kind of system. Anyone?

Oh god I'm having a Lego mental breakdown! I'm trying to sort everything into categories (Tupperware containers for the time being) but I'm overwhelmed by the sheer amount of different bits! It's really not as easy as I thought it would be. PLEASE help me make it easier before I chuck the whoever lot in one bit box!

So far I had sorted all figure in one box. Easy. All instructions in one box,wheels in one box but to sort everything using this method I think I'm gonna need about 10000 boxes!!! There must be an easier way. Am I. Taking this all far too seriously?

We have a wall of Lego! 2 boys aged 6 and 8 = a lot of Lego. It is in the IKea storage boxes by colour except for one box of minifigures and props.
Sadly we also have a building in progress box, a built box and a miscellaneous box. Everything is gradually moving from the separate colour boxes into these last three plus minifigures.

We have loads of these stacked inside a cupboard.

Staples

But seriously how many categories do I need? I feel like a prize prat for even asking these questions but it seems all so technical

Jicky I put two of those trofast units back to back in DS's room to make a 'playtable' with storage, so it's not as big as the one in the pinterest link but still does the same job.

DS has only just started on lego but got a couple of really big boxes for Christmas. I've sorted them by size (2x2, 4x2 etc) into different tubs for now, with seperate tubs for 'sloping bricks' and 'special bricks'. As long as I don't let DS near it it's working ok so far.

But there are so many "special bricks"

Seriously I think I need to get a grip!

You need one smallish box for every 'proper set' for which you still have the instructions.

Everything else goes in one giant tub,

We have one box for small bits and one box for standard bricks and boards. A third is handy for bigger fancy bits.
I think being OCD about it if you dc can be bothered to keep it tidy. if they can't i would bother either tbh

We actually prefer knex - you mcan keep it all in big tubs and still find what you want (because it's colour coded)

I have 18 categories = 2 x 8 drawer really useful storage towers.

1 drawer is a work in progress drawer though and the large models recently rebuilt are on shelves. Hang on, let me describe them - I know it drove me crazy as well - you have to have some shared categories and misc bits:

Unit 1
D1. ALL white bricks not currently in a model or part of a special category - including, very importantly - the solid colour little dot bricks of this colour
D2. As above, Dark grey bricks
D3. Blue (all shades)
D4. Light Grey
D5. Green (all shades) and pink (so high contrast)
D6. Yellow and Brown
D7. Black and Orange
D8. Red and Beige

Unit 2
D1. Small models and work in progress drawer
D2. Minifigures with associated parapanalia
D3. All the bits that don't fit elsewhere - mainly the see through dots, lights, etc - THIS IS THE CRUCIAL MISC DRAWER
D4. Anything to do with vehicles = wheels, bits the wheels go on, aerials, steering wheels, crane bits, little boats etc
D5. House Building - windows, doors, shutters, gates, flowers etc - also put the windowy bits from vehicles in hear - the perspex windscreen things - lost an hour or so debating whether theseshould o in drawer above
D6. Lego Bionicle bits
D7. Instructions
D8. Lego Magazines/book

Yes I am sad/need to get a life - but with 3 boys all mad on lego (including 1y old already!) I think it was time well invested. Good Luck my friend.

sorry 16!!!!!!! Still over-tired from Lego categorization ....

Befuzzled I am and at the same time at your storage system.

Ds mostly has Lego City stuff, so we use a large plastic storage box for each "theme", e.g. a construction box, a harbour box, a police/fire/ambulance box etc.........

My DS has very carefully organised his lego all over the bedroom floor!

We do however normally have clear plastic storage boxes from Ikea (with lids on) and one Stanley organiser (normally for DIY use) where we keep the smaller pieces.

I Know. I know. It is my pride and joy. My work here is done.

In all seriousness though, the MAIN benefit now is that they just take out a drawer or too each time - or even all the drawers, but they just root around in them as not too overwhelming to find the crucial bit and don't just upend massive boxes of lego all over the floor every day which I then have to eventually pick up / stop the baby eating.

We had a few years of almost daily arguments over this and one Lego minifigure punk's Mohican which travelled all the way through the digestive system of a 6 month old before I took this saddrastic action.

Befuzzled please come to my house and organise my lego

befuzzled have u ever thought of running courses on this kind of intricate organisation? I'd sign up for sure!

Have given up,now as ds is in bed but will attack again tomorrow armed with this new knowledge!

I sort by type, much easier than by colour and sets are together in bags/boxes.

Ha Ha I love Lego - If I could make a living as a Lego Storage Consultant I surely would! Maybe you guys could be my first client - MN rates!

Befuddled - I like your style

I have jus bought one of these

And two of these

Along with a storage head for mini figures

And plan to do very similar to you!!!!

With 4 children all into Lego this is a worth while cost and exercise

Befuzzled - sorry the auto correct on the iPad changed your name

Don't worry oooggs, great minds, I've just ordered one of those storage towers from Wilkos for the Playmobil! (My next organisational task (not as big))

I have 2 big tubs, it's all mixed up in those. one in dd's room, one in ds's. every few months I get sick of it all everywhere and chuck it all up the attic. they can have it back if they ask nicely but they're 5 and 3 so no chance. I too am hoping they will enjoy the organising side as they get older...

Lego sorting is going well, considering getting another tower and storage head as the Lego amount is growing. Then it would be sorted probably for ever!

do people REALLY sort their lego and categorise it? HOW much TIME do you have?!!

we have ten million tonnes of lego and i have 6? or maybe 8? or those under the bed storage boxes on wheels, it all goes in them, they are fairly shallow so the boys can hunt through and find bits they want easily. they have a seperate box for technic lego and also for the bionicle/lego hero stuff, that is there own doing tho, nothing to do with me, i just chuck it in the nearest box!

The children sorted it themselves and are pleased they can find what bricks & bits they want because it is sorted how they wanted it.